Birkirkara

Maltese minnows Birkirkara defied expectations last week as they escaped Upton Park with a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier.

Giovanni Tedesco's side rode their luck at times during the match as West Ham laid siege to their goal, but they managed to leave with just a one-goal deficit ahead of the return leg at the Ta'Qali National Stadium.

Birkirkara have been in indifferent form as of late, winning just three of their last eight matches in all competitions.

They ended the 2014-15 campaign on a high by beating Maltese Premier League winners Hibernians 2-0 to clinch their fifth Maltese FA Trophy. Meanwhile, they finished the season in third place in the table.

Birkirkara have never reached the Champions League or Europa League proper despite being involved in qualifying in 14 of the past 17 seasons.

Recent form (all competitions): LWWDWL

West Ham

West Ham head to Malta with a slender lead in the tie following their late victory over Birkirkara at Upton Park last week.

The Hammers were dominant during the match, creating numerous chances in front of goal, but they had to rely on James Tomkins's 90th-minute winner to give them the upper hand going into Thursday's game.

Head To Head

This will be only the second time that the teams have faced each other following the first leg in East London.

We say: Birkirkara 0-2 West Ham

After labouring to a 1-0 victory last week, West Ham will be expected to show a more clinical edge in Malta. Slaven Bilic will be eager to see his side book their place in the third qualifying round without any trouble, and it is hard to see anything other than a West Ham triumph.